Okay, a lot has been going on in my life, and most of it hasn't been great. However, things may be turning around. I am about to tell you a story, and for two reasons: I need to just talk it out to make more sense of things, and I need your opinion on something.
Here are a few things that are relevant to the story I am about to tell: I do not live on a farm, but have always wanted to. I am pursuing a degree in the agricultural field. I know what it takes to work a farm, as well as most of the cost associated with it. I do not have the money to purchase a farm of my own, or even a home for that matter. I am physically challenged, but can still do almost anything anyone of able-body can -- just in a different way. My mother & I need to move this coming Spring, when our lease is up at our current house. We currently live in rental home, with a creepy landlord that everyone in this town loves and believes whatever he says. Our current home is like a prison, where I get yelled at (by the Landlord) for starting a garden, composting, or doing anything for that matter. I hate this place.
Here is the story:
A few weeks ago I found a farm on craigslist, listed for sale. The minute I saw the pictures I feel in love, so I decided to contact the owner to see if he/she would be willing to rent it. After I clicked "send" on my email, I thought to myself, "This is such a long-shot, don't get your hopes up". That next day, to my surprise, there was an email waiting for me from the owner of the farm, saying that he, "would consider renting it in the right circumstance". Hot dog, I type my replay back to him so fast I almost broke my keyboard! I told the owner what I wanted to do with the property, and then I gave him the price I could offer (which he did not ask for, I volunteered it). I clicked "send" yet again, praying for a miracle. Knowing that what I was offer was probably not going to be enough, I warned myself not to get too ahead of myself.
The next day, I was on my to volunteer at the Y, for a fall festival, and that's when the cell phone rang. It was the owner of the farm! We talk for about 30 minutes, and I did my best to relay my intentions for the property, that both my mother & I were capable of caring for it, and I repeated my price offering. He didn't sound to thrilled about the price, or the fact the I am wheelchair-bound (but that does not stop me from doing anything!). He said that he would consider our offer over the winter, since we weren't planning until the Spring to move anyway. Which is way more than I ever could have asked for.
Yesterday (exactly three weeks from our last conversation), I sent him an email asking if we could just tour the property. I live about 40 miles from the farm, and have never seem it in person. In our last conversation, the owner had told me about some of the history attached to the property, and he said he would love to show it to us. Oh how I would love to pick his brain about more of it's history and how he currently manages it. Also, he told me about the existing animals on it; two Nigerian dwarf goats (which was the breed I was planning on getting when we had a farm), and 14 (I think) Rhodes Island Red chickens. I have not heard back from my email yet, but I got the impression that he is not attached-at-the-hip with a computer, and prefers face-to-face conversations over email (which is very refreshing, since most people I come in contact nowadays seem like they can not handle social interaction, other than Facebook). I could have called him, but I felt that might be putting him on the spot, since he hasn't made his final decision as of yet about us renting it. So, I thought an email would be something he could read and get back to me when he felt like it.
I really want this to happen, it would literally be a dream come true for me and my mother. I just hope I am not getting my hopes up too high, only to be crushed later.
I know he does not want to sell this property, but I guess due to the current economic times he has to. The owner of the farm has another house and business in a another town, and this farm was suppose to be his home for when he retired. In a way, renting it out could benefit all of us; he could keep his farm and his animals, and we could take care of it until he does have that chance to retire. Also, I know we could take not only physical care of his animals but help with the financial care as well. For example, we could probably take over complete care (physical and financial) of the chickens, and take physical care of the goats, and grow food to supplement what they eat, so he does not have to buy as much grain and/or hay. I could also contribute to the property, by planting things (fruit bushes, fruit/nut trees, and what not), and by building a small greenhouse, that would stay with the property when we leave for the owner to utilize later on.
So, here is what I need to ask whom ever may read my nonsensical babble -- In your opinion: Am I asking for too much? If you were the owner of this farm, how would you feel, and what might convince you into letting me rent it? Anything else you would like to add?
Here are a few things that are relevant to the story I am about to tell: I do not live on a farm, but have always wanted to. I am pursuing a degree in the agricultural field. I know what it takes to work a farm, as well as most of the cost associated with it. I do not have the money to purchase a farm of my own, or even a home for that matter. I am physically challenged, but can still do almost anything anyone of able-body can -- just in a different way. My mother & I need to move this coming Spring, when our lease is up at our current house. We currently live in rental home, with a creepy landlord that everyone in this town loves and believes whatever he says. Our current home is like a prison, where I get yelled at (by the Landlord) for starting a garden, composting, or doing anything for that matter. I hate this place.
Here is the story:
A few weeks ago I found a farm on craigslist, listed for sale. The minute I saw the pictures I feel in love, so I decided to contact the owner to see if he/she would be willing to rent it. After I clicked "send" on my email, I thought to myself, "This is such a long-shot, don't get your hopes up". That next day, to my surprise, there was an email waiting for me from the owner of the farm, saying that he, "would consider renting it in the right circumstance". Hot dog, I type my replay back to him so fast I almost broke my keyboard! I told the owner what I wanted to do with the property, and then I gave him the price I could offer (which he did not ask for, I volunteered it). I clicked "send" yet again, praying for a miracle. Knowing that what I was offer was probably not going to be enough, I warned myself not to get too ahead of myself.
The next day, I was on my to volunteer at the Y, for a fall festival, and that's when the cell phone rang. It was the owner of the farm! We talk for about 30 minutes, and I did my best to relay my intentions for the property, that both my mother & I were capable of caring for it, and I repeated my price offering. He didn't sound to thrilled about the price, or the fact the I am wheelchair-bound (but that does not stop me from doing anything!). He said that he would consider our offer over the winter, since we weren't planning until the Spring to move anyway. Which is way more than I ever could have asked for.
Yesterday (exactly three weeks from our last conversation), I sent him an email asking if we could just tour the property. I live about 40 miles from the farm, and have never seem it in person. In our last conversation, the owner had told me about some of the history attached to the property, and he said he would love to show it to us. Oh how I would love to pick his brain about more of it's history and how he currently manages it. Also, he told me about the existing animals on it; two Nigerian dwarf goats (which was the breed I was planning on getting when we had a farm), and 14 (I think) Rhodes Island Red chickens. I have not heard back from my email yet, but I got the impression that he is not attached-at-the-hip with a computer, and prefers face-to-face conversations over email (which is very refreshing, since most people I come in contact nowadays seem like they can not handle social interaction, other than Facebook). I could have called him, but I felt that might be putting him on the spot, since he hasn't made his final decision as of yet about us renting it. So, I thought an email would be something he could read and get back to me when he felt like it.
I really want this to happen, it would literally be a dream come true for me and my mother. I just hope I am not getting my hopes up too high, only to be crushed later.
I know he does not want to sell this property, but I guess due to the current economic times he has to. The owner of the farm has another house and business in a another town, and this farm was suppose to be his home for when he retired. In a way, renting it out could benefit all of us; he could keep his farm and his animals, and we could take care of it until he does have that chance to retire. Also, I know we could take not only physical care of his animals but help with the financial care as well. For example, we could probably take over complete care (physical and financial) of the chickens, and take physical care of the goats, and grow food to supplement what they eat, so he does not have to buy as much grain and/or hay. I could also contribute to the property, by planting things (fruit bushes, fruit/nut trees, and what not), and by building a small greenhouse, that would stay with the property when we leave for the owner to utilize later on.
So, here is what I need to ask whom ever may read my nonsensical babble -- In your opinion: Am I asking for too much? If you were the owner of this farm, how would you feel, and what might convince you into letting me rent it? Anything else you would like to add?
